Threw vs. Through

Threw와 through는 발음이 같지만 뜻이 완전히 다른 두 개의 단어입니다.

Threw는 동사 throw의 과거형입니다. 반면에, through는 전치사, 부사, 형용사로 사용될 수 있습니다. 그렇다면 thru는 어떨까요? Thru는 through의 철자를 잘못 쓴 것으로 추측되거나, 옳은 맞춤법이 아닙니다. 따라서 격식 있는 글쓰기에서 사용해서는 안 됩니다.

Throw와 그 과거형인 threw, 그리고 through의 정의를 예시 문장과 함께 분석해 보겠습니다.

Threw (past tense of verb throw)

Main definitions of throw (verb):

To propel an object or body part with force through air

Example: I threw a baseball.

Cause to enter a certain condition, state, or place

Example: Her emotions were thrown into turmoil.

To deliver (a punch)

Example: The boxer quickly threw a punch at his opponent.

To direct (a look or facial expression)

Example: She threw a glance at her sister.

To roll (a die)

Example: He threw the die in hopes for a 6.

To obtain (a number on a die)

Example: He threw a 6, which is the highest number on the die.

To confuse

Example: She was thrown off by his sudden change in behavior.

To have (a fit or tantrum)

Example: Her son threw a fit when he couldn’t get what he wanted.

To give or hold (a party)

Example: He threw a small birthday party for his friend.

Through (preposition, adverb, adjective)

(1) Main definitions of through (preposition and adverb)

Move in one side and out of the other side of something

Example (preposition): The car went through the tunnel.

Example (adverb): The runner came running through.

Continuing in time toward completion of a process or period

Example (preposition): She sat through the long lecture patiently.

Example (adverb): She will be studying right through to the end of summer vacation.

To complete a stage or process successfully

Example (preposition): He had come through the examination.

Example (adverb): He managed to push through.

Inspect all parts

Example (preposition): He flipped through the textbook.

Example (adverb): He read the letter through quickly.

(preposition only) expressing the position or location of something beyond or at the far end of something

Example (preposition): The auditorium is through that doorway.

(preposition only) up to and including (Jan 1st through Jan 3rd)

Example (preposition): The construction will continue from January 1st through January 29th.

(preposition only) by means of (a process or an intermediary)

Example (preposition): The cell will gain water through osmosis.

(adverb only) to be connected by telephone

Example (adverb): I will put the call through to Jane.

(2) Main definitions of through (adjective):

Continuing or valid to a final destination

Example: He took a through train from New York City.

Describing traffic that passes from one side to another

Example: That store gets many customers because it is on a through road.

(informal) done or finished

Example: They were through with each other.

Thru

Thru는 through의 철자를 잘못 적거나, 또는 비격식(informal) 표현으로 인식됩니다. 일상적인 생활 속에서 종종 사용되지만, 공식적이거나 학문적인 글쓰기에서는 사용되지 않는 것이 좋습니다. 대신에 올바른 맞춤법인 through를 사용해야 합니다.

A simple rule of thumb

Threw와 through를 구분하는 쉬운 방법은 사용하는 단어가 동사인지 아닌지를 보는 것입니다. 만약 동사라면 threw를 사용해야 합니다. 만약 동사가 아니라면 through를 사용해야 합니다. Through는 문장 내에서 전치사, 부사, 형용사 역할을 할 수 있습니다.

Practice questions

threw/through the basketball back to the teenagers.
Did you manage to get threw/through the crowd?
The moving toy threw/through the toddler off who tilted his head in confusion.
The twins threw/through their heads back and laughed almost in synchronization.
The sunlight seeped threw/through the thin curtains.
The authorities threw/through the criminals into jail.
Plants create chemical energy threw/through photosynthesis.
Little Penelope threw/through a tantrum at the mall because her father would not buy her ice cream.
The arrow went straight threw/through the target to everyone’s surprise.
George ran threw/through the forest and up the hill.